The Nutcracker Rings in the Christmas Season
By: Elizabeth Elliott
It is easy to feel the holiday spirit with a mouse king and a sugar plum fairy dancing across the stage. It is once again time for The Nutcracker, presented by Omaha Performing Arts and The Rose Theater at the Orpheum Theater December 3 through December 5.
This year, the performance is in collaboration with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.
"This is not just any Nutcracker," said Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts. "This company is amazing. I urge people to go even if they have seen it before."
The show is in a traditional style with contemporary elements. This includes cirque-style aerialists and authentic dancers doing the Russian and Chinese dances in the second half, as well as a trapeze artist doing the Arabian dance.
Tom Mossbrucker, Artistic Director of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, said the company remains true to the traditional play but there are some changes.
"Act Two takes place in a giant carousel rather than the land of sweets," he said.
"We performed this production last year in Fayetteville, Arkansas," added Mossbrucker. "It was a great experience and we wanted to try it again. We are pleased that Omaha wanted to do it."
Squires said there will be 120 youth participating in 60 roles over the run of the show. Mossbrucker said the Executive Director of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Jean-Philippe Malaty, came home raving about the kids.
Because the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is out of town, there are local companies helping with the training. Ballet Nebraska is helping train local students and The Rose is coordinating the student performances, according to Squires.
Having dancers in two locations can be challenging, but Mossbrucker said that challenge depends on the level of the children, as well as the coach. He does not think this will be too challenging.
"We are feeling great about both of those components," he said.
Mossbrucker said that because the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is mainly a contemporary dance company, The Nutcracker gives them an opportunity to use their classical dance training.
"The Nutcracker is pretty traditional," he said. "It's the one time of year we dance with pointe shoes, tutus and tights. There are big group sections."
Tickets for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet's The Nutcracker are still available. They range in price from $25 to $65 and can be obtained from Ticket Omaha, online at www.ticketomaha.com; by calling 402-345-0606 or at the Ticket Omaha Box Office inside the Holland Performing Arts Center, 13th and Douglas streets.